‘Battle of Fates’ overtakes ‘Moving’ as most-watched Disney+ show in Korea

"Battle of Fates," a Disney+ original reality series featuring 49 of South Korea’s most promient fortunetellers, has become the platform’s most-watched show in Korea, dethroning hit drama series "Moving." The reality show gathers a diverse group of practitioners — including shamans, known locally as "mudang," tarot readers, physiognomists and saju and Myeongri scholars — who compete to demonstrate their ability to interpret fate. Throughout the tournament-style competition, the participants face

March 6, 2026

Salt bread, coffee and a spring view of Inwangsan

Seoul weekends arrive with a quiet promise: more time, a slower pace and countless corners of the city waiting to be rediscovered. This week’s picks highlight two spots that capture the simple pleasures of Seoul life. In Yeonnam-dong, a bakery known for its cult favorite salt bread draws a steady stream of fans eager for its crisp crust and buttery center. In Buam-dong, a cafe with sweeping views of Inwangsan offers a peaceful perch to sip coffee while watching the mountain slowly awaken for spr

March 6, 2026

BTS concerts to serve as model case in Korea’s crackdown on ticket scalping

South Korea is moving to strengthen its fight against ticket scalping, with upcoming concerts by K-pop supergroup BTS expected to serve as a model case for the government’s new enforcement framework. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Thursday that it has launched a public-private consultative body aimed at eradicating illegal ticket resale in the performing arts and sports sectors, ahead of new legal provisions set to take effect in August. “Only when each institution’s role — fro

March 5, 2026

French Embassy launches cultural season marking 140 years of diplomatic ties

Marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France, the French Embassy in Seoul unveiled a wide range of cultural exchanges between the two countries, starting with the upcoming anniversary concert led by French conductor Adrien Perruchon. "Beyond politics, we will continue working together across all areas — including security, the economy, culture and education — to further strengthen France's relationship with Korea and ensure that the ties between our two co

March 5, 2026

2026 K-Royal Culture Festival opens in April as spring returns to palaces

The 2026 Spring K-Royal Culture Festival, the country’s largest national heritage celebration, is back for the spring season. Now in its 12th year, the 10-day festival opens on April 24 and runs through May 3. Hosted by the Korea Heritage Service and organized by the Korea Heritage Agency, the biannual festival draws visitors to Seoul’s five major palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung — as well as Jongmyo Shrine, which houses the ancestral tablets

March 5, 2026

Korea House, royal court fine-dining restaurant, reopens after renovation

Korea House will reopen on March 11 following a seven-month renovation. Founded in 1957 as a guesthouse for visiting envoys and dignitaries, Korea House has since evolved into a cultural dining space for traditional Korean cuisine centered on royal court dishes. The effort has been led by Cho Hee-sook, a former Michelin one-star chef who serves as culinary adviser, and Kim Do-seop, head of its Korean cuisine research team and a certified practitioner of Joseon royal court cuisine, a nationally d

March 5, 2026

For Tino Sehgal, art lives in encounters between people

As you approach the entrance to the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, a group of people standing to the side suddenly steps forward, chanting, “This is so contemporary.” Startled and baffled, you may wonder, questioning, “Is this part of the show or something else?” Once inside the museum, the performers, whom artist Tino Sehgal refers to as “interpreters,” blend naturally into the crowd, then slowly approach a visitor to share something intimate. If you stretch a hand toward them, they may touch or

March 4, 2026

Korean dance crew The Stories reflects on second Vibe win

When The Stories were announced as the winner of the 2026 Vibe Dance Competition on Sunday in Costa Mesa, California, it marked the crew’s second title on the prestigious stage. But for choreographer Kalvin Kim, the moment was less about the trophy and more about something harder to measure. “I don’t even know how to put this joy into words,” Kim said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Tuesday. “To experience two victories on a stage I’ve dreamed of since I was young, representing Korea, s

March 3, 2026

Young architects-to-be challenge architecture in data-driven age

As contemporary life is restructured by data-driven systems and algorithmic logic, the place of human perception and imagination within architecture grows increasingly uncertain. The exhibition “This Is Not Architecture: Somewhere, Nowhere” posed a question: "What should architecture dream of?" Architen, a nationwide network of architecture students, examined how human senses and imagination are being pushed aside in the technology-driven society. The exhibition unfolded at Boan1942, an art spac

March 3, 2026

BTS concert prompts closure of Gyeongbokgung, museums and theaters

Less than three weeks before BTS takes the stage at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, the city is preparing for large crowds, with authorities announcing safety measures and temporary closures of nearby historic sites and cultural venues. The Korea Heritage Service said Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace of Joseon (1392-1910) in Gwanghwamun, will be closed, with its parking lot shuttered and public access restricted. Officials said an emergency task force for palaces would be activated to conduc

March 3, 2026

Korean dance crew The Stories takes home Vibe Dance championship

The Korea-based dance crew The Stories took first place Sunday at the 2026 Vibe Dance Competition in California, organizers said. Led by choreographer Kalvin Kim, the team earned the highest score among 15 competing crews, finishing with 99.3 points out of 100 to claim the $5,000 grand prize. V Mo placed second with 95.89 points, followed by GRV with 95.29. The win marks another milestone for The Stories, which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. It won the competition in 2024, becoming

March 2, 2026

2026 LCK Cup wraps up, Gen.G reigns supreme

Gen.G cemented its status as the dominant force in Korean League of Legends with a statement victory at the 2026 LCK Cup, sweeping BNK FearX 3-0 in Sunday night's grand final and erasing its record of last year's title loss to Hanwha Life Esports. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious regional competitions in global esports, the Korean league, officially known as League of Legends Champions Korea, opened its season with the LCK Cup, a short-form tournament designed as an opener for the

March 2, 2026

Moon jar, reimagined

Soft and milky in tone, its rounded and generous form quietly draws the eye. The moon jar, a representative Korean porcelain that first emerged during the Joseon era (1392–1910), continues to captivate artists and designers today as an enduring source of inspiration. Made by joining two hemispherical halves rather than shaping a single body at once, the traditional moon jar allows for subtle variations in form — a quality often associated with Korea’s aesthetic appreciation for natural imperfect

Feb. 28, 2026

[Book Review] Beyond real estate: 'Seoul Urban Architecture' decodes city's DNA

“Seoul Urban Architecture: Rising from the Crushing Bowl” By Kim Sung-hong Park Books Seoul and its architecture may feel familiar to those who have lived in the Korean capital, but conversations about the city often revolve around real estate — a dominant topic that has come to define Seoul in recent decades. Nonetheless the time has come to look back on how the city has taken shape, and how its architectural trajectory might be understood beyond the logic of property values. In “Seoul Urban Ar

Feb. 28, 2026

Girls' Generation's Tiffany, actor Byun Yo-han get married

Tiffany Young, a Korean American member of K-pop band Girls' Generation, married actor Byun Yo-han on Friday, Byun's agency said. The two legally registered their marriage "based on their deep trust and love for each other," and wedding plans are still in the making, TEAMHOPE said. "They are at the stage of carefully considering a simple wedding ceremony in the form of a church service where they share their gratitude with family members," the agency said. "As they start a new journey of life, t

Feb. 27, 2026